Vaccination frequency in people newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• Infections are recognized as a significant risk factor for the development and exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (MS).
• There is a concern that MS diagnosis may lead to reduced vaccination uptake among newly diagnosed patients.
• Understanding vaccination patterns in MS is crucial for managing infection risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and subsequent vaccination frequency.
• To compare vaccination rates in MS patients against control groups with other autoimmune conditions and those without such diseases.

Main Methods:

• Utilized German ambulatory claims data from 2005 to 2019.
• Employed regression models to analyze vaccination status in 12,270 patients with MS.
• Compared MS patients with control cohorts (Crohn's disease, psoriasis, no autoimmune disease; total 198,126) in the 5 years pre- and post-diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Patients with MS exhibited lower overall vaccination likelihood post-diagnosis compared to individuals without autoimmune diseases (OR=0.91, p<0.001).
• Higher vaccination rates were observed for influenza (OR=1.29, p<0.001) and pneumococcal vaccines (OR=1.41, p<0.001) in MS patients.
• Vaccination differences were more pronounced before diagnosis than after, and MS patients were vaccinated less frequently than those with Crohn's disease or psoriasis.

Conclusions:

• Multiple sclerosis patients are under-vaccinated, contrary to recommended guidelines.
• Enhanced awareness regarding the importance of vaccinations is necessary to mitigate infection risks in MS patients.
• Particular attention should be given to vaccinating MS patients undergoing immunotherapy to prevent infections.